A priori, FC Barcelona has indicated that it does not plan to recruit this winter. The Catalan club is still struggling to register its players and only loans, like that of Marcus Rashford, can help it strengthen. On the other hand, there is a risk of one or more departures. Starting with that of its 33-year-old German goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen. Sport indeed ensures that the player has decided to leave Barça during the next winter transfer window. A decision motivated in particular by a desire to be present at the next 2026 World Cup. No name of courtier has been announced, but this information is the logical continuation of the recent events experienced by ter Stegen in Spain.
Arriving in Catalonia in 2014 from Borussia Mönchengladbach, the German international (44 caps) was an indisputable starter until the end of the 2023/2024 season before experiencing a terrible 24/25 season and marked by a long kneecap injury. A seven-month unavailability which forced the Blaugranas to bring the Pole Wojciech Szczęsny (35) out of retirement. This season, do it again. Hit in the back, ter Stegen had surgery last July and an absence of four to five months was announced. Which sparked a war between the player and his club. The German refused to sign the medical report and Barça reacted by removing his captain's armband and his number.
Ter Stegen no longer has a future in Catalonia
Faced with this explosive situation, the German was forced to speak out to defend himself. “These last few months have been particularly difficult for me, both physically and personally. Like any player, after suffering an injury, my only priority has always been to get back on the field as quickly as possible, motivated solely by the desire to help the team and do what I love the most: playing and fighting. (…) The decision to undergo an operation was taken after consultation with medical professionals and with the full agreement of the club, and always with the intention of prioritizing my health and my sporting career in the long term, which of course corresponds to the objectives of FC Barcelona: to make myself available on the field as quickly as possible to continue winning trophies. In addition, I publicly announced the minimum recovery time necessary after this operation, as communicated to me by the most renowned experts and always in coordination with the club.»
Since then, things have worked out between the goalkeeper and Barça. On August 8, ter Stegen finally signed the medical report allowing the Blaugranas to register goalkeeper Joan Garcia, recruited last summer to be the future number 1 in his position. Tensions between the different parties have dissipated, but Marc-André ter Stegen knows that he now has no future at Barça. Soon on the market, will the 33-year-old attract people? As a reminder, Sport indicated at the beginning of the month that three English clubs (Newcastle, Tottenham Manchester United) and a Ligue 1 team (Monaco) were interested. To be continued.
